USA > New York > Chronicles of the One hundred fifty-first regiment New York state volunteer infantry, 1862-1865; > Part 5
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The total loss of Union forces engaged at Spotsylvania C. Il. was 18399. The 151st lost 2 men killed, 21 wounded and I miss- ing.
The combined losses of North Anna and Totopotomoy were of Union forees 3986, and of the 151st 2 men killed and 6 wound- ed.
CHAPTER X.
Battle of Cold Harbor.
Capt. Bowen in writing home just before the battle of Cold Harbor, describes a change which is typical of the changes wrought through the South by the armies, which were undoubted ly sometimes malicious in their destructions but usually serving their interests.
"Camp on the lights south of Pannikey river, May 29, 1864. I am seated in an arbor covered with climbing rose bushes in full bloom, in one of the most beautiful flower gardens. It is one of the finest places we have seen in Virginia. But how changed in a few hours. All the out-buildings and fonees are torn down to shield us from rebel bullets.
The house is a large castle-like one, built of brick some sixty years ago. Slaves are mostly females, the males having been sent Sonth. It is now 4 p. M. and the army is expecting to move. You see we are nearing Richmond. We have had no mail for several days. I suppose you are in great suspense. So far 1 am all right. It now looks as though the imion army would be snecessful, although it may cost thousands of valable lives to accomplish it. Every body here is hopeful, and we have a large army. The 8th and 9th Heavy Artillery are here mustering 4000 men. I wish I could send you a bouquet from this beautiful gar- den.
Monday May 30 .- We moved and took up a different posi- tion last night. This morning we have moved in the direction, and are near Peak's Station on the Va. Central R. R. south of Hanover Junction. We were a few days ago north and west of the Junction, and we destroyed 8 or 10 miles of the railroad to- ward Gordonsville. We have a rumor that Gen. Lee is killed, but all we hear is from their prisoners. The Chaplain has just
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been in to say, we have communication open via White House and West Point, and that he will try to get our letters through. If so, we shall get a mail from the north side which will be a treat I assure you, as we have received no letters or papers for many days."
Lieut. Waring wrote from Gaines Mills June 9. "I am still unharmed. Have not seen the Captain since the night of June 1, when he left for the rear with a bullet wound in his wrist. Poor Martin (Bowen) having but a few minutes before fallen mortally wounded, and soon expired, and strange as it may seem these were the only casualties in Co. A, on that, occasion. All the boys speak of Martin's bravery. He died in their arms.
"We feel that the charge on that memorable night, although costing many lives and causing many tears to be shed over the fallen, was a good thing, and persistenly followed, acquiring for our forces a good position, and at the same time onr Brigade took 1200 prisoners, Co.A taking more than the number of its members, including one commissioned officer who surrendered his sword to to Sergt. Armstrong. My company suffered severe- ly on the 3rd inst. The line is farther advanced at this point, than at our immediate right or left, and the enemy's skirmishers presuming to drive us back made a demonstration, and they be- ing better covered than ours by the bushes, out ours terribly.
"The 10th Vt. were skirmishing, their ammunition was soon expended, and very many of their officers and men killed and wounded. Then came a detail for 140 men and 4 officers from our Regt. to relieve the 10th Vt. We did not want to go for the place had already received the name of the "slaughter pen." In less than 1% hours we had expended all our ammunition.
Corp. Wilson and N. Phelps killed, Corp. Flattery wounded and since died, Arnold Axtell mortally wounded, Corp. Day, O. M. Allen and R. Hawley wounded. I had the dead decently buried, the wounded were taken to the rear, and I have sue- ceeded in recovering all their gums. Captains Goodspeed and Schoen were both killed, but Lient. Hutchinson of K, and myself of A, came in unscathed, which we consider almost a miracle. Yesterday there was a suspension of hostilities for two hours to bury the dead and bear off wounded. Also the day previous the same, umder flags of truce.
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" On these occasions many from both sides met half way, shook hands and exchanged papers. It gave all an opportunity to crawl from their hiding places, and stretch their weary limbs, and take a look at the Gray Backs who were ont in large members to see the Yanks. At any other time for the past week, it has been abont all a man's head was worth to show it above the breastworks. If this thing continues long I think we shall all become stoop shouldered !"
Phillip Ernst writes of Jime Ist: "We got off our line and charged clear up to the enemy, and a flock of sheep along side of their train appeared, we began to drive them back to our line. In the meantime the enemy formed a line in our rear, and Mar tin Bowen called my attention to our right. In a few minutes the firing of the 18th Corps began on the enemy. Mr. Bowen got shot, then we went right to our line. I took Mr. Bowen's knapsack, gun and hat to Capt. Bowen and informed him of his loss." Mr. Ernst also tells of other comrades who l'ell near him while he escaped injury. His good nature was proverbial, and when the enemy was routed and fell into their riffe-pits head first he clapped his hands and shouted. Chaplain Foote called out " We are saved Philip is langhing."
F. O. Todd captured an officer's haversack half full of boiled ham, and recalls the feast he and several comrades had that night.
Jolm W. Lake tells of touching incidents after the battle of Cold Harbor :- " Many of the wounded had to lie where they fell for two days among the dead, and in the hot son before they could be carried off the field and cared for. Arnold Axtell of C'o. A was just alive, he knew us and talked with us, he died on the way to field hospital. Chas. Redman of Co. K, was found ly- ing beside an open grave. He spoke to us, and said, "Boys it is pretty tough to lie here and see. your own grave dug."
Philip Cooke's diary of May 31, to July 8, covers the engage- ments at Cold Harbor Va., first assault June 1, second assault Inne 3, assault before Petersburg June 17 -- 19, and Weldon Railroad Jume 21 -- 23.
Mr. Cooke's diary follows :
May 31st: Skirmishing going on all day. Built line of breastworks at night.
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June Ist: We march in the night for Cold Harbor. Onr regiment has the advance of the 6th corps that day and are the first Infantry that arrive at Cold Harbor. Form a line of battle in open ground. Woods in front. Near sundown we charge down through the woods across a Branch and capture a line of breastworks and take a good many Rebs prisoners. Took the Rebs by suprise. They had just got the breastworks finished and had commenced getting their supper. We held the line of works all night. Our regiment was in the first line of battle. After taking the breastworks the two lines of battle behind ns advanced their lines beyond us and there was some hard fighting until dark.
Jime 2nd: Not much fighting today in our front. We fix up the breastworks that we captured the day before. Along to- ward evening the Rebs open upon us with cannon, the shells came from a right oblique to onr lines and the cannon balls skip around through the woods quite lively. This Rebel battery gave us lots of trouble for several days. One soldier of Company E. was struck in the head with a cannon ball and instantly killed. We soon learn to hunt a safe place when the battery commences fir- ing.
Ane 3rd: The lines of battle are readjusted and we ad- vance our lines half a mile under heavy fire. Have several men killed and wounded today but we hold our position all day and night.
June 4th: We strengthen our lines today and hold the same position. The regiment received mail today and we get time to do some washing and cleaning up for the first time since the Campaign opened.
June 5th : We lay still all day and night behind the breast- works. Heavy firing on our left in the evening.
June 6th: Lay still all day. Go out on skirmish line at night. Clear field in our front. To our right there is an old stone chimmey standing. We believe there are some Rebel sharpshooters behind the chimney and we take a great many shots at it. There is about three Inmdred vards between our lines and the Rebs.
June 7th: We are out on the skirmish line. Keep up a brisk fire all day. Along toward evening there is a flag of truce
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for two hours. We find it a great relief to get up and walk around withont being shot at. The Rebels get upon their works and walk around and are enjoying the flag of truce privileges. We get relieved from the skirmish line after dark and go back behind the breastworks and have a good nights rest.
June 8th: Flag of truce this morning for two hours all along the line. The dead and wounded are taken care of and brought inside their respective lines. We throw up new rifle pits and stay here all day.
June 9th: All quiet along the front today, not much firing on either side.
Jime 10th: We pack up late in the evening and at 10:00 o'clock p. M. move to our left and occupy the breastworks of the second corps, which is moving back to the rear.
June 11th: We find ourselves about one mile to the left of onr old position and are scattered along the breastworks like skirmishers. The 2nd corps is being withdrawn from the front. We keep up a skirmish fire all along the lines. We presume that the 2nd Corps is making a flank movement and we make things lively for the rebels.
June 12th: We stay in the breastworks all day. The Rebs do not make ns any trouble. We pack up at dark and fall back from the breastworks. About this time the Rebs commence to throw shells over in our works from their mortors, but we are soon out of the range of their shells. We march all night. We find that we are in the rear of the Army and the men put in their ' best licks to keep up and not fall out of ranks. June 12th makes our Regiment twelve days on the battle field of Cold Harbor.
June 13th: On the march early in the morning. Cross the York River R. R. and pass by Barkers Mills at noon. Cross the Chiekahomany River at 9:00 o'clock P. M. and camp for the night abont a mile from the river. The men are very tired as we have been on the march twenty-four hours with but short stops for rest.
June 14th: March at 4:00 A. M. for Charles City Court House. Camp for the night near the James River.
June 15th : Lay in camp until 11:00 o'clock s. M. and march ont abont two miles and form a line of battle. Stay here mitil dark and then go on the picket line. The wagon trains are pass- ing along the road all night.
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Jime 16th : On picket all day. Leave the picket line at sun down and march to the James River at Wilcox Landing. Get aboard transports and go up James River. Arrive at Bermuda Hundred at 1:00 o'clock A. M. disembark and march till sunrise. The men are out of rations. No breakfast in the morning.
June 17th: Marched by General Butler's Headquarters at 5:00 o'clock A. M. March out about three miles and go into a line of breastworks built by Butler's men. Our men are all about played out. Most of them without food for twenty-four hours. Some of General Butkr's troops near ns brought us some camp kettles full of coffee and hard tack. We lay in the breastworks all day. After dark are ordered ont to the front to make a charge. The men are all mad at Butler for this order to charge the Rebel works. His own troops had been here all su- mer and were fat and in fine condition. We thought they ought to do their own charging as they knew the lay of the ground in front. Our men were so tired out and sleepy after they had formed the line of battle they had orders to lie down and they kept going to sleep, so that several of the Officers had to walk up and down the line and shake the men to keep them awake. During all this time the Rebs kept up a sharp picket fire. We lay in line of battle until after midnight when the order to charge was counterman led. It was a glad lot of troops that fell back behind the entrenehments. These breastworks were the best built that we had ever seen. The soil was of a clay nature and would stay packed in good shape. They were built about shoulder high, then bags filled with earth placed on the top with loop holes to shoot through. In front of the breastworks stretched several lines of heavy wire which made it a very strong line of defence. We thought that Butler's men took good care to protect them- selves. There was a great difference in the looks of our men and Butler's. We had been under constant march and battles since May 4th, having no opportunity to get clothing or keep on- selves clean, and it was a black and tan ragged lot of soldiers of the sixth corps that lined up behind the works of General Butler. The Butler troops looked like kid glove soldiers to us with their clean clothing and fine equipments. This was the first time we had seen any colored soldiers and they looked dandies to ns.
June 18th: We lay still all day behind the breastworks.
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The rebs stir us up in the afternoon by throwing a lot of shells inside our works but we have good protection and none of the men got hit. Here I want to relate an incident that happened to- day. One of our men was back from the breastwork several rods holding a can of coffee over a small fire. He had his back to the breastwork and stooping over when one of the rebels shells passed his legs and hit the can of coffee. How he did jump and shake his hands when the hot coffee had scalded him. He was not badly scalded, but it was a mighty close shave.
June 19th: We pack up at 4:00 o'clock P. M. and march to our left and cross the Appomattox River at City Point on Pon- toon Bridge, eross the Railroad, march until 10:30 o'clock P. M. and camp for the night near the front .
June 20th :Shelling commences on both sides this morning, but the shells fly high and to our left. We move to our right in the woods and lay still all day.
June 21st: We pack up at 3:00 o'clock p. M. and march off to our left, cross the Railroad near Petersburg, march about four miles and build a line of breastworks in the night.
June 22nd: We advance our line of battle at 10:00 o'clock A. M. and throw up breastworks. Stay here until 4:00 o'clock P. M. and then fall back to where we started from. bay still for two hours, then we charge on the Rebs and take a line of breas- works, then advance about two miles and stop for the night.
June 23rd: We throw up line of breastworks in the after- noon. Picket firing on our front, it soon works around to our left. The firing stops at dark and we fall back to where we charged from yesterday and stay all night.
June 24th : It is very warm today and ground is very sandy and hot. We repair our breastworks in the afternoon. Draw soft bread today-quite a treat. Back of our lines, there is a large house and out buildings, ice house, etc. The soldiers have taken possession and have a grand time for a change. Not far from the house is a traet of woodland. In these woods are two shallow ponds full of water. These ponds were made for the purpose of making ice, they being shallow the ice would form on them in the winter season. As we march through the country we find a good many ice houses. They are very deep in the ground and covered with a building. Our boys enjoyed the ice
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very much. They also used the ponds for bathing and washing their clothing.
June 25th: We lay still all day in the breastworks. Hear heavy firing and cannonading in the evening in the direction of Petersburg.
Sunday -- June 26th: Lay still all day. Have preaching in the afternoon.
June 27th: Rain today. Go out on pieket at night.
June 28th : Stay on pieket all day. Relieved in the evening and go back to the breastworks.
June 29th: We have Corps review at 7:00 A. M. At noon we march for the Welden R. R. and arrive near Reams Station at 9:00 o'clock p. M. Stay there all night.
June 30th: We build a line of breastworks today. At five P. M. we march back on the same road we advanced on Camp for the night at nine r. M.
July 1st: Lay still all day. Pack up in the evening and move half a mile to the front. Stay there all night.
July 2nd: Fall back to our old place behind the breast- works and stay all night.
July 3rd: Go out on picket at 5:00 A. M. Stay on line all day and night.
July 4th: Do not celebrate any today. On picket line all day and night.
July 5th: Get relieved from pieket line in the morning and stay with the picket reserve all day and night.
July 6th: We are relieved from the picket reserve early in the morning, and march for City Point, a distance of fourteen miles. The roads are sandy and are ent up deep. Hard march- ing, hot and dusty. We arrive at City Point at 2:00 P. M. At 3:00 P. M. we get aboard transports and start down the James river. Do not have any idea where we are going. Are taking it easy on the boat.
July 7th: Our boat passed Fortress Monroe at 4:00 A. M. Are sailing mp the Chesapeak Bay. We arrived at Baltimore at midnight. Stay on the boat until early in the morning.
July 8th: We get aboard box cars this morning and start for Frederick City. The men are ont of rations-had no chance to do any cooking on the boat. Are on the ears today. We ar-
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rive at Frederick City at 4:00 p. M. March ont through the town some distance and form a line of battle. The rebels have just planted a piece of Artillery on the hill where the road runs over it about a mile from us. They fire a few shots at ns but do no damage. When we marched through Frederick City and the eiti- ens found out we were out of rations, they promised to give us a supper of which most of the men stood in need, as we had noth- ing to eat through the day. As soon as we stirred up the rebels and found that they were so close to the town, it knocked the supper business ont. We stayed in line of battle until dark, and then marched back through the City of Frederick and crossed the Monocaey River at the Stone Bridge and marched down the river to Monocacy Junetion and reached there in the night. The men were fearfully tired and many of them abont played out. We got a few hours rest on an empty stomach. We little thought what the day would bring forth. This nights tramp was the last march for many soldiers of the 1st Bridage 3d Div. 6th Corps.
July 9th : Year 1864. The Battle of Monocaey is on.
The loss of the 151st at Cold Harbor was 2 officers and 12 enlisted men killed; 2 officers and 23 enlisted men wounded; 1 man missing. The total loss of Union forces engaged was 12738.
At the assault of Petersburg, and at Weldon Railroad there were no casualties in the 151st regiment.
CHAPTER XI
Battle of Monocacy.
The result of the battle of Monocaey, July 9, 1864, was in the interests of the National Capitol. The outcome of it was ex- tremely disastrous to the Union troops engaged, but the salva- tion of Washington is accredited to the delay caused by the en-
CHAUNCEY WEATHERWAX Co. G.
LEW E. DARROW Co. G.
gagement of Early's forces, until large reinforcements reached Washington to fully man the very strong intrenehments. That condition Early discovered when he made a reconoisance with a view of attack.
John P. Bingham interestingly tells how he escaped capture:
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"After the Wilderness campaign our division of the 6th corps was returned to the Shenandoah valley via Baltimore where we were sent by rail to Frederick City to head off Early, who was enroute to Washington. We met his advance guard just outside the city where a sharp skirmish was kept np till night, when our forces fell back across the Monocaey river and went into camp for the night.
" Next morning about sunrise the rebels commenced shelling our forces, when we formed fine of battle, charged their skirmish line and drove it back ; then the rebs formed four lines of battle, and compelled us to fall back to a chosen position, where we held our ground nearly all day against four to one, till the right wing of our line, which was composed mostly of hundred day men, gave way and our forces were compelled to retreat. Now comes the `tug of war'. I was so engaged at the time my regiment re- treated that I never knew it till I heard the rebels yell, and I found myself fighting the whole of Early's army singlehanded and alone, not a blue-coat was in sight! I had said that I never would be taken prisoner, so my legs made well my escape with bullets whizzing all about me. I was four days making my way to Baltimore to join my regiment.
"During the fight I lost all my messmates, viz: Edwin Bowen killed, William Disbrow taken prisoner, E. C. Morris wounded in the shoulder joint.
After this battle I was the highest non-commissioned oficer left in the company, so I was in cononand of Co. F, made all details and requisitions, and kept the company books, and led my company into three battles, Winchester, Stransburg, and Cedar Creek, where I was wounded in the left hip while making counter charge.
"Was carried to the rear on stretcher and met Sheridan on the Pike coming to the front about 10 o'clock or half past."
Jolm Kelly writes of another presentiment: "P. J. Hayes was killed at Monocacy. As we were charging front he said to me, 'this is my last.' I told him to go back, he said 'No.' In less than 15 minutes he was shot through the left temple. He carried his fiddle all through the Wilderness campaign, but I don't know what became of it unless he left it in Baltimore when getting on the cars. "?
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Channecy Weatherwax sends a retrospective communication, with official reports commending the action of Gen. Ricketts Division, which included the 151st regiment :
"The objective point in a military campaign is the capital city of the enemy. Washington was three times during the Civil War ahnost within the grasp of the enemy. The persistent ery of 'On to Richmond!' showed the aim of Federal armies.
" The first attempt to capture our Capitol was at the beginning of the hostilities when the militia of the District of Columbia came to the resene of the small body of marines and artillery, before the arrival in the Capital of the troops from Pennsyl- vania, Massachusetts, New York and other Northern states. The second attempt was inmediately after the battle of Bull Run (only 21st, 1861) when it could have been captured by the Con- federates had they not been more demoralized by victory than the Federals by defeat. The third time was when General Early made his campaign against Washington, July 6, 1864, the entire Sixth Army Corps was in front of Petersburg. Understanding that General Early was moving down the Shenandoah Valley towards Maryland with a strong force, our Brigade, which did not mmuber more than twenty-one hundred men, left Petersburg by a march of fifteen miles to City Point, where we took trans- ports down the James River into Chesapeake Bay and to Balti- more, and by rail on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to Monocacy, at which point we were formed in line of battle on the Frederick and Middletown Pike.
"July Ninth, will ever be remembered by the surviving mem- bers of the 2,100 men arrayed against the 30,000 seasoned troops under General Early at Monocacy. One of the most fierce, wild, savage, furious, violent, excessively earnest engagements of the Civil War was fought at Monocacy. General Early's army was victorious. So unexpected and so rapid were the Confiderate general's movements that he was in sight of the dome of the Cap- itol before his cleverly conceived plans were fully realized. When the roar of Early's guns was heard and the telegraph announced that he had defeated Lew Wallace at Monocaey Bridge the heart of the North quivered with emotion as it contemplated the de- fenselessness of Washington. This daring campaign against Washington and its skilful exeention caused a rude awakening
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in the North then impatiently waiting for Grant to take Rich- mond.
" Both Washington and Baltimore were in a state of panic, while gold went up to the highest point. The capture of Wash- ington meant diplomatie complications of a most serions nature, with foreign powers awaiting for a plausible pretext for dis- memberment of the Union.
" The Third Division of the Sixth Corps, which had been de- tached by the way of Baltimore, contributed, mainly, to the delay of Early's forces at Monocacy, and that delay proved import- ant in connection with the timely arrival of the other Sixth Corps divisions, the Third Division under General Ricketts, fought practically, as an outpost force, in aid to the First and Second Divisions of that corps, at the time on the way to Washington. Therefore it is pertinent that the part performed by the three regiments first on the ground, and later by the Third Division should be noted, for it had much to do with events connected with the march of Early. General Wallace, telegraphed to Gen- eral Halleck: "I am retreating-a foot-score, battered, and half demoralized colunm. You will have to use every exertion to save Baltimore and Washington. I think that the troops of the Sixth Corps fought magnificently. I was totally over- whohued from a force from the direction of Harper's Ferry ar- riving during the battle. Two fresh regiments of the Sixth Corps are covering my retreat. I shall try to get to Baltimore."
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